Business Incubation Workshop Concluded at Pokhara University

Pokhara University’s Incubation Center completed a four-day Business Incubation Workshop, designed to foster innovation and entrepreneurship among students.

The program was jointly inaugurated by Associate Professor Buddhiraj Joshi, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology, and Dr. Om Prakash Giri, Director of the School of Engineering, through a formal poster signing ceremony.

Focus on Practical Innovation

In his inaugural remarks, Dean Buddhiraj Joshi expressed the university's dedication to transforming students' innovative ideas into viable, real-world ventures.

Dr. Dipanjal Shrestha, Associate Professor at the School of Engineering, outlined the workshop’s focus on guiding students from problem identification to the development of sustainable business solutions.

More than 80 students actively participated throughout the event. The final session on June 15 featured an Idea Pitching Competition, where the winning team was awarded seed capital and incubation support.

Workshop Sessions and Activities

Day 1: Design Thinking and Business Models

The opening day featured training sessions by:

• Dr. Srijan Gyawali, Director, School of Business

• Engineer Ravi Bhandari

• Kiran Kumar Kunwar

• Kuldeep Poudel

These sessions covered:

• Design Thinking Fundamentals

• Market Research Techniques

• Business Model Development using Lean Canvas

Day 2: MVP Planning and Budget Challenge

On the second day, Ram Prasad Tiwari led a workshop on building a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) roadmap.

Student teams were challenged to create a practical solution within 24 hours, using only an NPR 100 budget, which encouraged creativity and rapid prototyping.

Additional sessions included:

• Hari Bahadur Budhathoki, CEO of Green Development Bank, on financial analysis and market risk evaluation

• Bibek Shrestha, of Bibek Shrestha & Associates, on legal aspects of intellectual property rights and trademark registration

Day 3: Pitching and Digital Marketing

The third day included intensive training sessions conducted by Ram Prasad Tiwari and Vijay Bhattarai on:

• Pitch Deck Development

• Branding and Positioning

• Customer Journey Mapping

• Go-to-Market Strategy

Participants also launched demo campaigns using Facebook Ads Manager, gaining real-world experience in digital marketing.

Bishwas Acharya conducted a session on seed fund planning to help participants understand early-stage funding options.

Program Wrap-Up and Coordination

The workshop concluded with active participation and positive feedback from students.

Assistant Professor Jeevan Bhandari coordinated the event, while Assistant Professor Dr. Shanti Devi Kshetri delivered the welcome address.

The entire workshop ran until Ashar 1, 2082, and marked a significant step in building entrepreneurial skills and startup awareness within Pokhara University.